Hell Gate Bridge, 1916.

The Hell Gate Bridge is named for the narrow and often rough waters of the tidal strait in the East River that it traverses. The bridge is officially known as the New York Connecting Railroad Bridge. Designed by civic engineer Gustav Lindenthal (who was also involved in the construction of the Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro Bridges) the bridge is actually three bridges that connect Astoria to Wards Island and Randalls Island and those islands to the mainland. The largest of the crossings is the steel through arch bridge over the East River.

The railroad-only bridge saw its first train crossing on March 9, 1917, opening up an important rail connection between Long Island, Manhattan, the Bronx, and New England. This new connection made passenger travel along the busy Northeast Rail Corridor a more direct and easy journey. It also vastly improved the movement of freight as the only direct rail freight link between Long Island and the mainland.

It was the world's longest steel arch bridge until the Bayonne Bridge opened in 1931, and it inspired the builders of Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia and the Tyne Bridge in England.